Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Okay, just for you few special people who read this, here is probably the best selfie I've taken this year:

Thank you universe for coming together to create this picture I feel pretty good about. This was after my final presentation for the spring semester, so I had made a bit of an effort on my appearance was feeling confident after my group's successful finish.

Also this is commemorating how good my bangs looked two months ago because it is now far from that.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Day 25 - Would you rather date someone plain with an amazing personality or someone beautiful with a plain personality?

Well. Time to get philosophical.

What is a plain personality? Someone might seem superficial or disingenuous, but surely there is something underneath. The question there, is do they feel they can be themselves. And what is an amazing personality compared to a plain one? Do they simply fall into more extremes on scales of personality traits? I don't think it's a bad thing to kind of be in the middle. As long as our personalities are compatible and they have the qualities I'm looking for in a date, I think anything would be fine.

And as for looks, I generally find their inner self is what makes them beautiful.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Thanks for being my channel pretty much forever. You're almost all I watched when I was little, and you're even airing my new favorite shows now. So that's pretty cool.

Barney, Arthur, Dragon Tales, Big Comfy Couch, others I'm probably forgetting, those were all really fun and probably develop social skills for kids. So I salute you. And Mr. Rogers of course, with talking about feelings and imagination and how stuff is made and feeding the fish.

Even though I don't remember them well, Wishbone, Bill Nye, and Reading Rainbow exposed me to stuff I would build on later.

Liberty's Kids got me interested in history in a major way, and helped tremendously in school. I still love it.

Fetch with Ruff Ruffman had me totally captivated and I learned a lot of weird facts from that too.

That was probably the last thing I actively followed from PBS Kids - now I've moved to Masterpiece Mystery. Well, like three shows. And a couple more that have already ended. I'm so glad you play these mysteries so I don't have to wait for them to be on BBC America and then finally on dvd like a year and a half after they first air and everyone watches them.

But hey. These cut-down versions you air. I know you probably have to do it because of time slots and no commercials but. How come the Sherlock cuts were fine but on Endeavour some cuts are important to the characters! Mrs. Thursday and Monica are important! And they help us understand DS Thursday and Morse better.

But really, you've played a bunch of wonderful shows that have shaped my life for the better, so it wasn't all mindless TV watching.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

I'm mostly a t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops kind of of person, and today is a Doctor Who shirt day. Got a pretty chill day planned so didn't feel the need to dress up much - going to read stuff for school, watch Inspector Lewis, return said dvd to the library because it it due today, and take my first attempt at a test. What are you wearing and have planned?

Saturday, June 18, 2016

WELL it just so happens that Endeavour comes back tomorrow night. *internally screaming*

I still really love the shows in the "Morseverse," especially Endeavour (probably my fave) and Inspector Lewis (possibly fave characters).

Quick explanation of how all this works - Colin Dexter originally wrote Inspector Morse mysteries which were turned into a popular TV show. Morse's assistant, Sergeant Lewis, later got a sequel on TV (Inspector Lewis), then they started making a show about Morse in his younger days (Endeavour).

So to recap -
Endeavour - set 1965-1967 and beyond, aired 2012-present
Inspector Morse - set and aired 1987-2000
Inspector Lewis - set and aired 2006-2015 (final season to air in the US in August)

Endeavour is just a masterpiece. It has great mysteries, a fantastic cast, beautiful locations, classical music, and heart-tugging characters and stories. I'll be rewatching an episode and think "ah, this is so peaceful," and then "wait this is so sad how did I forget," and then I'll listen to opera and join Morse in his melancholy state.

Of course, since it's ongoing there's always the chance it could go downhill. We'll see. I'm probably going to love it anyway.

And to those who have put up with me obsessing over this for two years - thank you.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Excellent question, I ask myself this too. Deciding this sounds scary, and I don't understand how people do it. I guess either you decide on something early and change it later, or you don't decide until you do whatever it is and make your choice then. I don't know.

I want to have a long-term job, maybe one that focuses on doing good for people. Something with a definitive purpose beyond making money.

I want to be a 'grandma' to a young person. Maybe a relative, maybe a friend. But I want to make them cookies and listen to them and give them advice and hugs and grumble about back in my day.

I want to either have an area of expertise or know a bunch of obscure facts about a lot of things. Like to be well read or a pinterest-perfect crafter or have a quote for any occasion or be the one people go to when they've been wondering something weird.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Day 16 - If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do with your remaining time on earth?

Hmm, well if I was the only one dying, I would probably be writing to people and settling affairs (as much as someone my age can settle affairs. Setting up an fannish next-of-kin for my AO3 account?).

But since the world is ending (this is assuming we're not going to populate another planet or something), I'm guessing everything would be rather chaotic. I think I'd like to just be at church for a while (I bet we'd be doing all the sacraments and probably novenas and stuff). It would probably be the most peaceful and hopeful place, and a beautiful way to be in community with people.

I'm not sure what else, I feel like I'm missing something. Or is this another edition of "Arda takes things way too seriously"? What would you all do?

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

unfortunately I think he only wears this suit in the last series. it really...suits him.

Day 15 - A photo of someone you fancy at the moment

Also known as day 2 of my nonexistent crushes.

The closest thing to a person I fancy at the moment would be my love for James Hathaway. He's a detective from the show Inspector Lewis (a fictional character, of course - it's me after all), played by Laurence Fox (whose music I talked about earlier this month).

James is one of those characters who is simultaneously me, my son, my best friend, and my husband. In some ways I feel he really gets me (and also he may be rubbing off on me). He is also at times a small child who needs to be protected. And someone with a compatible temperament and interests.

If I used five words to describe him, they'd be intelligent, facetious, brooding, sarcastic, and devoted. (Oh yeah and he's Catholic too).

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Here it is, and remarkably clean for me. The background is from the show Foyle's War, which is set in 1940s Britain, hence the not-TARDIS. I tend to stick a bunch of links and stuff on my desktop to look at later, and when it gets too messy I just throw it all in a folder, so that's what most of those folders are (though I went through and organized/deleted some stuff recently, go me). Then I have school stuff, a few pictures I just found for my Midsomer Murders blog, and a link for a radio show this is now reminding me to listen to.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

For some reason, whenever this question comes up, I immediately forget everything that annoys me. So I got some inspiration from a Huffington Post article. These are pretty much all paraphrased or inspired by it:

When people are really late without letting me know

People who are sick and not careful to not spread their germs

People who say "no offense" and then say something offensive, or say "I'm not racist/sexist/etc. but," or "I was raised Catholic but" no. Just stop.

People who ask you something but do not pay attention to the response or look like they literally couldn't care less

"On accident" (apparently it's as accepted as "by accident" but it just doesn't sound right to my ears)

When people play their music out loud in public (I'm trying to get some reading in before class and there's already too much going on please don't add rap music)

When adults complain about young people being on their phones all the time (bonus points if they're on their phone at the same time)

When the air isn't squeezed out of a ziploc

(And my own additions) When two people talk to me at once and don't try to sort themselves out

When people constantly express extreme disbelief that you haven't watched something and oh my gosh you've got to ("oh really, I think you'd like it" is totally fine)

The feel and sound of fingernails on certain surfaces like metal or towels. Ughhhhhh

Being done with a blog post and thinking of other things to add or change

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Day 8 - Three things you want to say to different peopleIt was actually really tough for me and I don't want to go back. If we did, I'd want to do things differently and be more open when I'm struggling or don't like how things are.You're stretching your wings and keep climbing higher and it's beautiful. I'm so proud of you. I'm sure it hasn't been easy but you make it look natural. Thanks for keeping me in your life.I'm sorry, I don't know why it's so hard for me to write back. You're so special and full of life, I hope you're able to stay that way despite the changes in your life. Growing up has made life difficult for other friends, and I hope it doesn't do that to you.

*these may for specific people that I don't think will see this, but some parts can be generalized, so like it's probably not talking about you, reader, but part of it can be. If that makes sense.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

With the amount of times books have been mentioned on this blog, I don't think it will come as a surprise that yes, I do read. And while it's been harder for me to get into a book for a long time, I have already fulfilled my New Year's hope to read at least two books this year! As for favorites, I recently did one of those tags where you list 10 books that have stayed with you. This list isn't perfect and may have just one out of a series I love, but it is a few of my favorites:

Monday, June 6, 2016

Since October I believe, I've been listening to a lot of Laurence Fox. He played one of my favorite characters on Inspector Lewis and has been working on a music career as well. I don't necessarily recommend all his music, but I really love several songs (I haven't even listened to his new album yet what the heck). Often the whole message of a song won't speak to me (or the melody more than the lyrics), but little bits will, and I thought I'd share a few with you all.

Believe we are growing up And yet still we scream: don't goI'll never leave you alone...Believe you are beautiful, very much more than you knowI'll never you alone, cause I knowI was on fire, until you put me at easeAnd I am just like the wind, and the wind will change again

It’s time, time to start clutching at straws again Picking a fight that you can never win, never win, never win In time, he’s gonna feel so small Cause you are the fire, you are the storm.Stay by the fire until you get warmDown to the far shore To write his name in the sand in the dark before dawn The waves will wash it away But that’s what he’s waiting forHe’s gonna sway himself to sleep Throwing rocks into the ebony deep And he knows All his thoughts will explode into something more

Sunday, June 5, 2016

It always looks and sounds like it's so beautiful, and to go to such an central place for my religion would be great.

2. The Bodleian Library - Oxford - England

My Oxford-based detective shows made me fall in love with the city, and the Bodleian Library has featured prominently in all of them. While it sounds like there's not a whole lot tourists can see (access is primarily for the university and researchers), I would be happy to see anything inside and spend time on the outside. Also it has long underground tunnels for most of its storage, which sounds really cool.

3. Somewhere I can see the Northern Lights

I'm far too close to the equator for it to be a remote possibility, so if I could get lucky enough to see them somewhere, it would be a great experience.

4. Somewhere beautiful I've never heard of

My brother and I have been playing this game where you're dropped somewhere on google street view randomly, and we've ended up outside some really beautiful landmarks I've never come across, so there must be so many wonderful places to visit that aren't the most common vacation spots.

5. Somewhere with friends

Because of the internet, I've been able to make friends all over the United States and the world. When you can see each other in person, it's the greatest thing. It's weird, because the familiar words are now paired with a voice and a face. I'd like more of that, no matter where it is.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

I'm guessing this challenge was originally made for tumblr, but I will talk about my blogger name of Arda.

So from 2010-2014 there was this super awesome online game called Clone Wars Adventures, where you were a Jedi in the Clone Wars era of Star Wars, running around the Jedi Temple and playing games with different Jedi Masters. It was even voiced by the TCW voice actors, so you could literally hear Obi-Wan talk to you about lightsaber training and it was the best thing.

I believe you needed a fake first and last name to sign up - you could probably get a random one or add one yourself. Before this, I had usually gone by Rosie Cotton (from LotR) on the interwebz, and this time still wanted something LotRish but a little more...sophisticated maybe?

My brother and I put together Arda Ancalima, basically because both words were from LotR and it sounded good. Arda is the earth Middle-Earth exists on, and Ancalima is part of Frodo's invocation of the Light of Earendil (the phial) in Return of the King: "Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!"

Both words are from the Quenya form of Elvish, and very very roughly translate to most "brightest realm." I have no idea if this is the correct order of the words, or if one needs to be conjugated, and that sometimes makes me worry that I come across as a fake fan (rather than a lazy, ignorant, ooh pretty words one).

In 2011 I joined The Lakehouse Forum for female Star Wars fans, and kept the same name because it was cool and already connected to the Star Wars fandom in a way. Several members already had blogs and inspired me to make my own, so when I signed up on blogger I just used Arda, as I was already used to being called.

And that is the very long version of how I now go by Arda so much you could call that on the street and I would probably think it was me.

Friday, June 3, 2016

I'm writing these posts the night before and scheduling them, so this is my day yesterday:

I woke up late because it's summer

Had breakfast

?? (should have taken notes)

Probably did stuff on the internet

Worried about school (I have a summer class)

Figured out that the syllabus was slightly off and I'm actually further along than I thought

Tried to read my textbook but brain was like nah

Had lunch instead

Did something...

Read my textbook!

Prayed the rosary with the fam

Made pizza

Ate pizza and did a crossword with my mom and brother

Didn't want to practice music or read more (yesterday I just wasn't feeling it)

Practiced music anyway, and it was actually nice (I'm singing at an event at church tomorrow and a Mass this weekend)

Sang a bit for fun too (karaoke videos on youtube ftw)

I think I did some blogger/youtube/tumblr

Watched a couple short episodes of Sarah and Duck (the sweetest BBC children's show narrated by my fav Roger Allam) with Mom

Read more of my textbook (I only have two pages left so I'm on track with where I wanted to be!)

Was relieved

More blogger and talked on fb with friends (oh gosh and I still have two posts open to read I'm sorry guys I'll try to be better at commenting soon)

Wrote this post

Showered

Watched the second half of an Inspector Lewis episode with my brother

Edited this post

Will go to bed soon :)

My dear friend at Pens, Thespians, and Words started doing this challenge as well! Give her a look and a follow. Also check out her Facebook page (somehow her blog doesn't show up on my feed so if that happens to you this is the best way to see her posts!). :)

About Me

Hey everybody! I'm a young Catholic fangirl who loves Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Star Wars, and many other stories. I also enjoy music, reading, writing, video games, and trying different creative ventures.